Agreements

FAPESP - ISTPCanada Call for Proposals 2012

CANADA - BRAZIL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION

Joint Call for Proposals for Collaborative R&D Projects - April 2012

Important Note: The following Call for Proposals has been amended
to reflect the new rules of the FAPESP´s PIPE Program, in effect since
May 2012, particularly increasing from 100 to 250 the maximum
number of employees of eligible small business companies.

Important Note 2:
The Expression of Interest Deadline is extended to June 18, 2012.

Under the Canada – Brazil Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, the Governments of Canada and Brazil have agreed to foster joint research and development (R&D) projects.

This Canada – Brazil (São Paulo) Call for Proposals (CFP) will be delivered by FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) a Brazilian foundation, funded by the taxpayer in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, with the mission to support research projects in higher education and research institutions, in all fields of knowledge; and by International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada (ISTPCanada), a non-governmental organization on the Canadian side. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by ISTPCanada and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) in 2012, these organizations will jointly fund the Canadian component of collaborative industry-academic R&D projects.

Please note that to apply for funding under the joint ISTPCanada-NSERC initiative; the proposed area of R&D must be in accordance with NSERC CRD and/or ARD grant objectives. For projects involving college researchers, all research areas are eligible as the ARD grant covers tri-agency mandates. For CRD projects, strictly natural sciences and engineering research areas are eligible; therefore projects in health and/or social sciences and humanities are not eligible for NSERC funding.

This CFP will prioritize R&D projects in the following sub-sectors; however ISTPCanada and FAPESP will accept quality applications in all four technology sectors listed below.

Technology Sector

Technology Sub-Sector

1

Information and Communications Technologies

Cloud computing

Wireless broadband

Gaming

2

Ocean Science and Technology

Sensor technology and platforms

Observation systems

Data management technologies

3

Life Sciences

Neuro science and brain imaging

Application to epilepsy

Pediatric neurology

Neurodegenerative disease

Diagnostics, biomarkers, pharmaceuticals

Infectious diseases (Denge)

Diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and vaccines

4

Green Energy and Clean Technologies

Bio energy including energy from bio waste

Wind energy

Hydrogen production

Testing of new technologies, production from ethanol reforming, pyrolysis of feedstock

Hydroelectricity

Low head turbines, new dam architectures

“Smart” grid

Integration of new and alternative power sources

Nanotechnology

Photovoltaics

Green Mining

Water and effluent management, abandoned and orphaned mines, ventilation on demand, green vehicles

1. Nature of the Activities

This Canada – Brazil program aims to foster and support the development of collaborative R&D projects that bring together companies, research organizations, academics and other collaborators from both countries for the joint development of innovative products or processes. It aims to stimulate innovative R&D projects (engaging small-to-medium-sized companies and/or larger, well established firms) that address a specific market need or challenge; demonstrate high industrial relevance and commercial potential; and aim to deliver benefit to all participants, and more broadly, to both nations. These projects help participants to become more competitive by developing global research-based alliances with the potential to foster increased or expanded international R&D collaboration. Applicants are required to review the complete application guidelines before developing and submitting an Expression of Interest or a complete proposal.

2. Eligibility

Each proposal must include an eligible lead from Canada and São Paulo, Brazil.

Applicants from Canada

Eligible Canadian applicants must be researchers or managers of for-profit companies that operate and are headquartered in Canada. Canadian subsidiaries of companies headquartered outside of Canada are typically not eligible for support. However, as ‘benefit to Canada’ is a key objective and among the most important selection criteria, ISTPCanada may grant an exception to such subsidiaries if they have R&D facilities in Canada and can demonstrate that Canada will accrue clear economic benefit from the bilateral R&D project. Academic institutions, research hospitals, other institutes or research associations are strongly encouraged to participate in the projects as co-investigators.

Please note: Representatives from Agencies of the Crown (including Crown corporations, government institutes, government laboratories, etc.) are eligible to participate in R&D projects and related initiatives supported by ISTPCanada, however they are not eligible to receive funding or subsidies from ISTPCanada.

Applicants from São Paulo (Brazil)

The São Paulo participants in the proposed project must be either:

a) A researcher(s) working for a small business (less than 250 employees) established in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

b) An association, between academic researchers affiliated to a higher education or research institute in São Paulo, Brazil, and, industrial researchers from one or more companies of any size operated and headquartered in Brazil. In this case the application must be submitted by one of the academic researchers.

3. Requirements

Applicants are required to meet all of the following criteria when applying for funding under this CFP. Each proposal for a Canada- Brazil (São Paulo) R&D project must:

Identify an eligible lead from Canada and São Paulo who will be responsible for the development and submission of the joint application within their province or country;

Demonstrate that all partners contributing to the R&D project have agreed in advance on IP rights and the commercialization plan for the jointly developed product or process;

Building on the principles of a true bilateral partnership, all projects should demonstrate equivalence in effort from the Canadian and Brazil (São Paulo) partner;

Projects involving both academia and industry must demonstrate active participation by industry partner.

Please note:

Although it is not mandatory, the engagement of academia will strengthen a proposal;

Although it is not mandatory, projects that engage a technology developer and a technology end-user/first customer are strongly encouraged.

R&D projects that provide opportunities for young researchers to participate are strongly encouraged.

Representatives from countries other than Brazil (São Paulo) and Canada are permitted to participate in bilateral R&D projects; however they are required to secure their own funding.

Any team proposing an R&D project that addresses the above criteria is eligible to apply to this Call in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures of their jurisdiction or country.

4. R&D Project Funding

Selected Canada – Brazil (São Paulo) R&D project participants will receive funding from ISTPCanada in Canada, and FAPESP in São Paulo, Brazil. Funds will be provided in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures established by each organization, and/or each jurisdiction/country. Although the individual type and value of individual contributions allocated to a Canada-Brazil R&D project may vary, each bilateral project must demonstrate equivalent total contribution from each participating country. Total contribution may be defined as the combined value of cash, human resource effort, services and/or equipment that each country invests in an R&D project.

Funding for R&D Project Participants in Canada

As the proportion of Canadian and Brazilian (São Paulo) project costs will vary by project, industry participants from Canada are eligible to receive up to a maximum of 50 percent of approved Canadian costs for the bilateral R&D project, to a maximum of CDN $400,000. Industry-academic teams can benefit from NSERC support if the project has an integrated CRD/ARD component. Hence, if the company provides $100,000 for direct research to the academic partner, NSERC will contribute up to $200,000 to the project, provided a sufficient in-kind contribution is provided by the company. Any university overhead taken from the company contribution cannot be levered by NSERC. NSERC funding is provided directly to the academic participant(s) on the project (see Application Guidelines for more details on the ISTPCanada-NSERC collaboration).

ISTPCanada will award two types of funding to selected project participants from Canada:

Funding awarded to private companies will be provided as a non-repayable contribution; these recipients are not required to repay this contribution;

NSERC funding to university and college researchers will be awarded as a non-repayable grant; these recipients are not required to repay this contribution.

An Important Note about Stacking Rules: The stacking limit of total government assistance (the combination of federal, provincial and municipal assistance for the same eligible expenditures) for this program is 75 percent. This means the total government funds used to implement an R&D project may not exceed 75 percent of the total budget. Please refer to the Application Guidelines for additional information.

Funding for R&D Project Participants in São Paulo, Brazil

FAPESP will fund successful São Paulo projects under the terms and conditions stipulated for the programs below:

a) While retaining the financial ceiling similar to ISTPCanada per project, FAPESP may choose to contribute more than CAN $400,000 for selected projects that engage a small business (defined as companies with less than 250 employees) in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, according to the rules of the FAPESP PIPE (Innovative Research in Small Businesses) Program; or

b) The FAPESP contribution will be limited to a 50% of the eligible costs to a maximum of $400,000 CDN for proposals submitted by an academic researcher(s) in association with a company of any size operated and headquartered in Brazil, according to the rules of the FAPESP PITE (Research Partnership for Innovation) Program.

5. How to Apply

To ensure the effective delivery of the CFP and reinforce the principles of bilateral partnership, ISTPCanada and FAPESP will employ a joint, two-step application process for this Canada – Brazil (São Paulo) Call.

Step 1: Submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI)

As a first step, applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to ISTPCanada and FAPESP on, or before, June 18, 2012, midnight EST. The Canadian and São Paulo R&D project leads are required to submit a single, joint EOI using the template provided by ISTPCanada and FAPESP for this purpose. EOIs that do not use the approved template or are hand written will not be accepted. Upon completion, applicants must e-mail (only one joint submission with signatures required for both Canadian and São Paulo applicants) the completed EOI as a word document and as a signed PDF to (istpcanada-fapesp@canada-brazil-proposals.org). This will ensure that the EOI is delivered to both ISTPCanada and FAPESP for review.

ISTPCanada and FAPESP will acknowledge all EOIs within five working days of receipt.

Step 2: Submission of a Complete Proposal

Following the conduct of an EOI review, ISTPCanada and FAPESP will notify all proponents about the outcome of their EOI submission. Canadian and São Paulo project leads for approved EOIs will be invited to submit a joint proposal to their respective CFP program delivery agency (ISTPCanada in Canada, or FAPESP in São Paulo) on or before, July 30, 2012, midnight EST. It is important to note that Canadian and São Paulo project lead are each required to submit requested number of copies (see below) of the final proposal in an official working language to the delivery agency in their province or country.

Each application must be signed by an official who is legally responsible for the R&D project and endorsed by the chief executive or leader of the applicant organization or institute. Electronic signatures will be accepted on applications submitted to ISTPCanada and FAPESP.

Applicants are required to use the Application Template (will be provided to the successful EOI applicants) associated with this CFP when submitting a proposal. Proposals that do not use the approved format will not be accepted into the competition.

The Canadian project lead is required to submit two (2) printed and signed copies (see address below) along with the electronic version as a word document and as a signed PDF of the complete and signed proposal on a CD/USB stick.

The Brazilian (São Paulo) project lead is required to submit one (1) hard copy and a CD/USB containing the completed and signed Full Application and other necessary FAPESP forms (will be provided to the successful EOI applicants) to the following address (please ensure the Application Reference Number is listed on the cover of the Full Application).

ISTPCanada and FAPESP will acknowledge all proposals within five working days of receipt.

6. CFP Information Sessions for Canadian Participants

All Canadian and São Paulo applicants are strongly encouraged to participate in one of the following CFP information sessions to be organized and jointly hosted via teleconference by ISTPCanada and FAPESP.

May 8, 2012 – 2:00 PM EST

May 29, 2012 – 2:00 PM EST

Advanced registration is required for all information sessions. To register, please provide your name, title, organization, email address and phone number, along with the date and time of the session you would like to attend, via email to: info@canada-brazil-proposals.org.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Release of Canada-Brazil (São Paulo) R&D Call for Proposals:

April 26, 2012

CFP Information Sessions:

Please refer to Section 6 of this document

Expression of Interest Deadline:

Extended to June 18, 2012

Full Application Deadline:

July 30, 2012

Release of CFP Results:

November, 2012

7. Evaluation and Selection of R&D Projects

To ensure the effective delivery of the CFP and reinforce the principles of bilateral partnership, ISTPCanada and FAPESP will conduct a parallel but independent review of all applications followed by a joint review. Together, these program delivery agencies will make a joint decision on selected R&D projects to be funded under this competition.

Review of Expressions of Interest

ISTPCanada and FAPESP will independently assess all EOIs, and then proceed to conduct a joint review. EOI’s will be evaluated on the basis of CFP requirements outlined in section three of this document.

Please note that the EOI review process will have three possible outcomes:

The EOI meets all program requirements; the lead participants are requested to submit a complete proposal to ISTPCanada and FAPESP for this CFP using the approved template;

The EOI clearly does not address the program requirements; the lead participants are advised not to submit a full proposal to ISTPCanada and FAPESP for this CFP;

The EOI addresses a majority of the requirements, but requires some additional information; the lead participants are requested to clarify or provide additional details before a final decision is made by ISTPCanada and FAPESP.

Evaluation and Selection of R&D Projects

Drawing on expert reviewers from both countries, ISTPCanada and FAPESP will carry out parallel but independent evaluations of all applications based on the project criteria and requirements specified in the CFP application form. Successful R&D projects will be jointly reviewed and selected by the two CFP delivery agencies based on the feedback and recommendations received from Canadian and Brazilian expert reviewers.

Publication of the Results

Project leads will be informed of the outcome of the review process, and if successful, the funding to be awarded to the bilateral project, by their respective CFP delivery agency. A complete list of selected projects will be published on the ISTPCanada and FAPESP websites following the public announcement of CFP results.

Administrative and Legal Requirements to be Addressed by Project Leaders Prior to the Release of Funds

Following award notification, ISTPCanada and FAPESP will advise project leaders in their jurisdiction of all administrative and legal requirements to be addressed prior to the release of funds.

9. Contact Information

Should you have questions regarding this Canada – Brazil (São Paulo) Call for Proposals for Collaborative R&D Projects, the application process or information sessions, please contact: